Major Development Initiatives Announced for Majuli by Assam Chief Minister
Chief Minister's Vision for Majuli
Guwahati, March 30: In a significant push for the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign in Upper Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a range of substantial development projects for Majuli while supporting party candidate Bhuban Gam.
During a public rally held on the river island, Sarma presented a comprehensive strategy aimed at establishing Majuli as a prominent educational and cultural center, emphasizing improvements in healthcare, higher education, infrastructure, and measures to combat erosion.
“We plan to set up a medical college in Majuli and allocate ₹250 crore for transforming Majuli University for Culture into a fully operational university. Our goal is to make Majuli an educational hub, focusing on disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Economics, and Political Science,” the Chief Minister stated.
Addressing the existing infrastructural deficiencies, Sarma also revealed plans to construct a large cultural venue in the area.
“Every visit to Majuli reminds me of the absence of a proper auditorium. We will build an auditorium that can accommodate 2,000 individuals,” he noted.
The Chief Minister underscored the importance of safeguarding Majuli from persistent floods and erosion, announcing a significant riverbank protection project.
“We aim to recover and safeguard approximately 45,000 bighas of farmland through the development of geo-tube embankments from upper to lower Majuli. This is vital for the welfare of farmers,” he explained.
Sarma also highlighted the region's rich cultural heritage, referencing the spiritual and historical importance of Srimanta Sankardeva and Majuli's Vaishnavite traditions.
In a pointed political critique of the Congress party, the Chief Minister accused previous administrations of neglecting the constituency.
“For the Congress, Majuli is a burden. For us, it represents an ideal constituency,” he asserted.
He further claimed that Congress leaders seldom visited the island during their time in office.
“In the past five years, I have visited Majuli at least 15 times. The frequency of my visits, along with those of former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, far exceeds the total visits made by all previous Congress Chief Ministers combined,” Sarma remarked.
Intensifying his criticism, Sarma accused the Congress of favoring specific vote banks over the interests of indigenous communities.
“They rarely came to Majuli but preferred to visit areas with a higher presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. For them, such individuals were more significant,” he alleged.
Framing the upcoming election as an ideological battle, the Chief Minister challenged the Congress's vision of a “new Assam.”
“Is there anyone greater born on this land than Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva? Or a more formidable warrior than Sukapha? Do we aspire for an Assam shaped by them or a new Assam molded by the Congress?” he questioned.